All Vulvas Are Normal: The Vulva Health Education We Should Have Learned In School

Why So Many Women Feel Unsure About Their Vulva

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve looked at your vulva at some point and wondered if it looked “normal.” You are far from alone. Vulva insecurity is incredibly common among women, and the reason isn’t our bodies. The reason is that nobody ever taught us the truth. Sex education rarely included vulva health, variation, care, or confidence. Many of us only ever saw one version of a vulva in diagrams or in media, and that narrow representation has shaped how we feel about our own bodies. This article exists to help rewrite the narrative. Your vulva is brilliant, unique, and deserves to feel understood and appreciated.

What Your Vulva Actually Is

The vulva is the external part of your genitals. It includes the labia, clitoris, pubic mound, urethral opening, and vaginal opening. Not a single vulva looks identical to another. There is no one correct version. There is no standard shape, size, or colour. Some inner labia are tucked inside the outer ones. Others extend further out, are longer, fuller, or asymmetrical. All are healthy. Colours can range from soft pinks to deep browns and purples. Hormones, pregnancy, age, and even menstrual cycles can influence changes over time. Pubic hair is a natural protective layer and grows exactly where your body needs it. Variation is the norm. Your vulva is not the exception.

The Quiet Epidemic of Vulva Insecurity

The quiet truth is that many women feel unsure about their vulva’s appearance because of comparison and silence. Studies show that around 60 to 70 percent of women have felt insecure about how their vulva looks. About 1 in 5 say they have considered cosmetic labiaplasty for purely aesthetic reasons. These insecurities are learned, not inherent. They come from the media’s filtered narratives, from lack of inclusive sex education, and from a culture that rarely discusses vulva health openly. When you’re only shown one version of something, anything different can feel flawed. The reality is that your body is the reference point, not the exception.

The Vulva’s Role Goes Way Beyond Appearance

Your vulva’s purpose goes far beyond appearance. She is a powerful sensory organ with so much to do for your wellbeing and pleasure. The clitoris contains around 8,000 nerve endings, more than any other part of your entire body. The labia helps protect against bacteria and infection. Your vulva responds constantly to what’s happening in your life, including stress levels, hormones, temperature changes, exercise, arousal, and emotional shifts. She’s working for you all day, every day. A body part that is protective and multifunctional deserves comfortable support and gentle care.

How Your Underwear Can Support (or Impact) Vulva Health

One of the biggest and most overlooked influences on vulva health is what you wear. Underwear choices can make a significant difference. Synthetic fabrics trap heat and moisture close to the skin, creating the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to thrive. Tight seams or narrow cuts can cause friction, irritation, and discomfort, especially for women whose inner labia need more space and support. Non-breathable materials can also increase odour, inflammation, and recurring infections. Supporting your vulva’s health means giving her airflow, softness, and enough room to move freely. Your underwear has a larger impact on comfort and confidence than it often gets credit for.

Easy Everyday Vulva-Friendly Care

There are simple daily shifts that can create a more comfortable and supportive environment for your vulva. Choosing natural, breathable fabrics that allow fresh air to flow helps maintain microbiome balance. Underwear with wider gussets offers better coverage and less friction, especially during movement. Gentle elastics prevent rubbing. Using mild detergents and avoiding strong fragrances keeps the delicate skin calm and healthy. Small changes like these can completely transform how your vulva feels day to day.

Your Emotional Relationship With Your Body Matters

It’s also important to acknowledge the emotional relationship we have with our vulvas. Many women grow up feeling disconnected from or ashamed of this part of their body. That shame is learned. It does not belong to you. Loving your vulva is an act of confidence. An act of empowerment. It’s a reminder that pleasure, comfort, and softness are not rewards. They are needs you deserve to prioritise. Supporting your vulva physically sends the message that you value every part of yourself, not just the parts others can see.

How Jaymes Supports Real Vulva Comfort

At Jaymes, we support vulva health by choosing softness, breathability, and thoughtful design. Our underwear is made using natural, breathable organic bamboo that helps your vulva stay cool and comfortable. We create wider gussets that provide real coverage and support. Our designs avoid digging in or harsh seams that cause friction. Every detail is considered so your body can feel free and beautifully at ease. Your vulva is already perfect. Our goal is simply to make sure she feels that way.

A Final Reminder: Your Vulva Is Already Perfect

The most important thing to remember is that your vulva is normal. Healthy. Worthy. Beautiful. You were never meant to look identical to someone else. You were never meant to fit into a narrow beauty standard that doesn’t reflect reality. You deserve to feel at home in your own body. Loving your vulva means understanding her, taking care of her, and embracing the incredible things she does for you. The more we talk about vulva health and celebrate the diversity of real women’s bodies, the more we break down the shame and silence that never should have existed.

Your body is allowed to take up space. Your vulva is allowed to change, move, grow, and age with you. Normal is not a single look. Normal is all of us. Confidence starts with what you choose for yourself each day, even down to the pieces you wear closest to your skin. Give your body the comfort, softness, and support she has always deserved. Your vulva is already perfect exactly as she is.

We have this beautiful book on our coffee table in the HQ and we highly recommend it to open your world up around vulva's. 

Ellie’s book, Flip Through My Flaps: An Exploration of the
Vulva